TAMPA - Rockledge of Brevard County blasted Winter Haven 11-4 to win the 4A title at Legends Field on Thursday.
Pounding out 11 hits, as it did in the semifinals, the Raiders jumped to a 4-1 second-inning lead only to see the Blue Devils go ahead 7-4 after four innings.
Senior Jason Ray came on to pitch for Rockledge in the fourth and shut down Winter Haven (27-5). Facing the minimum 11 batters the rest of the game, Ray gave up one hit in the sixth to Jake Meier, but it was erased on an inning-ending double play.
Jeremy Revers, Nick Robertson and Michael Burton each had two hits for Rockledge (19-13), which entered the postseason 12-13.
"We started to come together after we lost our last four regular-season games," coach Greg Clayborne said. "All of us knew we had what it takes to win, and we finally proved it tonight."
It was the first state championship for Rockledge in seven tries.
3A: Gulliver Prep earns title with 4-2 win
Miami Gulliver Prep turned back Pensacola Catholic 4-2 to win the title.
Gulliver third baseman Danny Jordan powered a curve ball 385 feet over the centerfield fence with first baseman Jorge Castillo aboard to put the Raiders ahead three runs in the fourth inning.
Matt Anzivino, who had pitched 13 innings all season for Gulliver Prep, came on in relief to pick up the win for Gulliver Prep (27-6), giving up one hit and striking out the side in the sixth.
Pensacola Catholic (26-5) threatened in the seventh, but a diving stab of a line drive by Castillo ended the rally. Catholic got runs in the fourth and fifth innings on singles by Eugene Smith and Jake Williamson.
